In part one of today's post, you skipped me ranting about writing in high school. In part two, I will discretely mention that I am awesome and also talk about my feelings. Also, I'm awesome.

I recently took this test called the GRE. I think it stands for something, but I didn't care enough to find out what. Yes, I did take a test that I don't know what it means. Hang on, okay the letter that I skipped over to find the numbers says "Graduate Record Examination." That makes no sense at all. What did any of this have to do with my records? Stupid test.

My mom was curious about how I did so well on the written portion, the Analytical Writing section. For the record (aha!), I am better at it than 94% of you. I might be misusing and misinterpreting the statistics, but those in the know just call that "applied statistics." It's sort of like how we don't call it MMDL or Mass Manipulation, Deception, and Lying, instead using the MMDL term "Marketing."

Surprising fact, when taking the test I actually got to a point, sometimes even the same point that I was trying to make.

So my mom wanted to know when I got so good at writing. Well to me it's pretty obvious: I spent 5 years or so in various formats arguing with idiots about video games. It's a lot like leveling up weapon skill before they removed the Servants of Razelikh. Find a target which is immune to all attacks, or in the case of internet forums, facts and logic, and then fire away. You will never accomplish anything, but you'll get very good at it.

Actually I think the real cause was that college writing helped me to practice analysis and get the idea into my head that things can be analyzed. Then I spent what has now been nearly three years writing about WoW and gaming in general. Just about every day, resulting in such a volume of writing that even if not all of it is particularly great, it creates a level of comfort. In high school I was intimidated by writing. Now I am comfortable with it. That removes a barrier, allowing my mind to focus on strange concepts like logic.

I didn't actually say this. Unfortunately, my mom is of the mindset that video games are entirely worthless. To suggest that they have had any positive impact, or really to even bring them up, would be provoking a pointless argument. So this blog into which I've poured much time and mental energy, remains unspoken. I can't quite seem to come out as a blogger.

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So my mom wanted to know when I got so good at writing. Well to me it's pretty obvious: I spent 5 years or so in various formats arguing with idiots about video games. It's a lot like leveling up weapon skill before they removed the Servants of Razelikh. Find a target which is immune to all attacks, or in the case of internet forums, facts and logic, and then fire away. You will never accomplish anything, but you'll get very good at it.

Great. Incredibly Great. And it is even more great, because this could have been written by me. Ha! Ok. maybe I wouldn't turn out to be better than 94% of the rest of you, but English isn't my first language, anyway ;)

I studied Financial Mathematics and Physic. In school I hated to write about literature, although I always got the best marks for talking about it. mmh ..

I made a meaningless, but serious online test some time ago, together with a few good friends. Result: The guy who studied history and social whatever scored high at mathematics and number skills. And I scored high at language, communication and literture. And it isn't even all that wrong.

I mean. I'm certainly not bad at numbers and mathematics and differential equations. But what do I spend a significant amount of my free time on?

Thanks for giving me something to skim-read while I pile a pasta thing of some description into my face. I joke of course, this is a really interesting little insight. Especially the bit where you feel that arguing in defence of games with your mum is pointless, but have spent years banging your head against the brick wall of internet forums (spiky bricks, bricks made from blood and death and the tears of orphans).

I'm the opposite in this regard, I will always take the time to explain why I think playing video games is a great asset to a developing mind, and continues to teach us things into adulthood, even if those things are "there will always be people who stand in the stupid". I'll discuss it with anyone who will listen, my mum "Darling... I think you might be a geek" included. But I find myself exasperated at the thought of pulling idiots up on their idiotic comments on forums and such. I suppose this might be a bit unfair; it is not difficult to teach bright people.

I digress, ugh, what I wanted to say is that I thoroughly enjoy your style and tone and, to be honest, I don't really care what you're talking about because I know I will be engaged. I don't think this is an entirely learned skill in the same way that 'natural' artists can be told apart from 'learned' ones, but nevertheless I'm delighted that you attribute at least some of your writing skill to your gaming experiences.

We all know nothing positive and productive can ever come out of gaming, absolutely NOTHING!!

/cough

it's kinda scary though, basically you've filled volumes enough for a book or three the past years writing and blogging about games. just think, you could've published a book with that - maybe you should! y'know, a collection of stories on WoW or "memoirs of a grumpy troll" maybe? :D we're missing a business opportunity here!

@Nils: It's funny how much more fun it is when you don't have to do it.

@Reala: Oh do describe the pasta thing, it lacks a description. :)

It's easier to debate class balance with someone who wants to talk about class balance, even if they are absolutely certain that X class is OP, than it is to talk with someone who is dead certain that the very subject is bad and has no points of reference. I mean, how do you even begin to explain the concept of LFD and anti-social behavior with someone who thinks solitaire is a waste of time for boring teleconferences?

@Syl: Oh god, can you imagine what an editor would think if I dropped a pile of my blog posts on his desk? Or a mental health expert? Maybe they can name a new disease after me: Klepsacovic Bipolar Opinion Disorder.

You know what, in hindsight the pasta can be accurately described thus: disappointing.

The thing I've found about talking to non-gamers about games is to relate it to them somehow. With WoW it's even easier because of the many, many facets of gameplay. So, for example, I've introduced talking about WoW to a fishing friend of mine as a whole by talking about the cooking and fishing aspects first. I talked to another who's a geologist about mining, JC and archaeology, before then talking about the wider aspects of game play.

Just to draw them in you understand, and then BOOM: theorycrafting and World of Logs.

I'm sure it just needed more garlic and Parmesan. I've never managed to fail to improve pasta by adding Parmesan.

Once I tried talking about EVE and comparing it to WoW, then I realized that "farming" is an incredibly deceptive bit of slang and my parents had no clue what I was describing. I gave up after that, since it seemed a fluke that they would have or feign any interest at all.

Yeah, writing extended essays and responses on the WoW and other forums really allowed me to exercise my writing skills too. But I have to admit, I exercised skills there that I had learned in college and high school. Now I'm comfortable with them.